Dr. Alan A. Wartenberg, MD, FACP, DFASAM, Addiction Medicine Specialist
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Dr. Alan A. Wartenberg, MD, FACP, DFASAM

Addiction Medicine Specialist | Addiction Medicine

66 Pavilion Ave Providence RI, 02905
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About

Dr. Alan Wartenberg is an Addiction Medicine Physician in Providence, RI. Dr. Wartenberg evaluates patients using many different procedures, in order to determine what treatments must be carried out in order to properly assess their symptoms. Addiction Medicine Physicians provide medical care in addition to consultation for each patient and their families.

Dr. Alan A. Wartenberg, MD, FACP, DFASAM's Videos

Education and Training

Med College Of Wisconsin 1972

Board Certification

Internal MedicineAmerican Board of Internal MedicineABIM

Provider Details

MaleEnglish
Dr. Alan A. Wartenberg, MD, FACP, DFASAM
Dr. Alan A. Wartenberg, MD, FACP, DFASAM's Expert Contributions
  • Do cigarette quitting tablets really work?

    Pharmcotherapy for tobacco cessation is effective, but unfortunately not in everybody.  The best success is with a combination of usingnicotine skin patches, which deliver a consistent steady-state of serum nicotine, combined with the use of short-acting nicotine (which arenot tablets because nicotine is not well absorbed orally).  Short-acting forms include gum, lozenges and nasal sprays.  The combinedsuccess in one study was slightly over 50%, with men doing better than women.  However, the relapse rate at 6 months was about 20%.Other common treatments are the anti-depressant buproprion, which had a success rate of 35% and varenicline (Chantix) which was about25%.  There was significant relapse, in the range of 20-30% in both groups at 6 months.  All of these treatments worked better when combined with psychological support, both group and individual (i.e., a smoking cessation program). READ MORE

  • Drug test for Adderall?

    Drug Test for Adderall Without knowing what particular drug test they are using, it is impossible to say with certainty,but dextroamphetamine, the ingredient in Adderall, is relatively short-acting (about 10 hours),and really does not accumulate in tissues much. It is usually present for no more than 2-4 days,so your test is very likely to be negative.  However, not telling your employer about your medicalhistory can backfire on you later. READ MORE

  • Drug test?

    Wish I could give you a more certain answer, but I cannot say unless you can tell me exactly what kindof drug testing is being done.  If you only took one Lortab, the half-life is about 3 days in urine, but if theyare doing a more sensitive test, it may show up.  If it is being done for legal purposes, they should do amore definitive test like gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy which will almost certainly detect it.If you have a prescription for the Lortab, it should not be a problem.  However, if you know you are beingdrug tested and you still needed to use an opiate pill, I am concerned that there is more of a problem here. READ MORE

  • Are there any medicines to treat addictive tendencies?

    There are actually a number of medications that can reduce both the craving for alcohol and decrease the incidence of relapses, reduce the number of drinks when relapse occurs, and ultimately improve treatment. They are generally BEST used when combined with a professional program that includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Enhancement, or ContigencyManagement (three behavioral techniques proven to be effective), as well as participation in mutual-help groups such as AA or Smart Recovery. Talk with his primary care provider for more information. The three approved medications are Acamprosate (Campral), Naltrexone(ReVia and generics), and Disulfiram (Antabuse). I generally recommend the first two, and Naltrexone is available in a monthly injection which can improve adherence to the medication. There are also approved drugs for other indications that are being increasingly used in practice. READ MORE

  • What are the side effects of e-cigarettes?

    E-cigarettes have the same side effects as combusted tobacco but to a reduced extent because of the lower temperatures at which nicotine (and tars - the carcinogenic and lung damaging hydrocarbons foundin tobacco) volatalize.  It is thus thought to be less dangerous than smoked cigarettes.  But they are not WITHOUT danger. There is still nicotine addiction and nicotine effects on the heart and vascular system, and there is a lower level of tars. Since there are other ingredients in the liquids that companies use in their E-cigarettes, and we do not have extensive experience with their side effects, it is hard to make a definitive statement.  However, there is little doubt that vaping tobacco is safer than smoking it. READ MORE

  • Should I go to a psychiatrist for drug addiction?

    There are psychiatrists who are very knowledgeable about addiction, and there are others who are less so. Psychiatrists who are Board Certified in Addiction Psychiatry are the best bet, but there are other physicians who are Board Certified in Addiction Medicine who are equally competent. The American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry websites (asam.org and aaap.org) can give you names of doctors in your area. READ MORE

  • Hydrocodone withdrawal?

    Depends on how much he has been taking. If it is three or four tablets per day, withdrawal will likely be minimal and can be managed with over the counter medication for the symptoms. However, if he is taking more, or if he has underlying medical/psychiatric conditions that can be worsened by withdrawal, it may be more of a problem. The physician who was prescribing the hydrocodone should be able to give you referral information for professionals who can help your husband. READ MORE

  • Xanax with extended release melatonin?

    You cannot "overdose" on this combination if by overdose you mean a serious excessive exposure that results in major danger to health. You may be overly sleepy, but even that is unlikely. In general, it is not a good idea to use 2 different kinds of medication initially for the same problem. You should see how one of them works before trying another. However, if you have any history of risk factors for substance use disorders, such as positive family history, or a history of binge alcohol consumption, Xanax is a highly dependency-producing drug and I would recommend not using it on a regular basis. READ MORE

  • Dependency to opiate vs addiction

    Physical dependency is NOT addiction, and in fact is not even required for the diagnosis of a Substance Use Disorder. The 11 criteria relate to the amount of harm being done by the drug clearly exceeding whatever good it does. This harm can be in our personal lives or our lives with other people (social harm). Some drug and alcohol counselors view ANY use of a potentially dependency-producing drug or substance as being problematic, and make use=abuse=dependency. Your dose is quite low, and I doubt very much it is causing any change in your mood. Arguing with your brother may be the source of your "hostility," READ MORE

  • Can medications give you a false positive on a drug test?

    Most initial drug tests are "screening tests," which are simpler and less expensive than confirmatory tests, which are far more accurate. Many substances can give false positive on screening tests, but confirmatory tests will give more accurate results. Fentanyl is now found in a bunch of counterfeit pills, and if your goddaughter is using any medications bought on the street or from friends they may be contaminated/adulterated with fentanyl. Phony Xanax cut with fentanyl has been associated with several deaths. Make sure your goddaughter is not taking such counterfeit medications not obtained from pharmacies. Any positive screening test MUST be followed with a confirmatory test if there are consequences for the positive test, according to the current standard of care. READ MORE

  • How can I get rid of drug addiction?

    Kind of like asking how do I get rid of cancer. There are as many answers as there are different people. There are physicians who specialize in the treatment of substance use disorders, and are certified in either Addiction Medicine or Addiction Psychiatry. Speaking to one of those physicians could be a good first step. Attendance at mutual-help groups such as Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery, all of which now have online meetings, is also a good start. All of these approaches recommend eventual and complete discontinuation of your drug of choice, but many drugs require a medical detoxification to be safe. READ MORE

  • How much is too much?

    The recommended safe limit for drinking in women is no more than 1 standard drink per day, and you are exceeding that. A recent study by a reknowned expert in the field, Dr. Henry Kranzler, showed that brain damage can be seen with even smaller doses of alcohol. Alcohol can do a great deal of damage without killing someone. See your primary care provider for evaluation and advice. READ MORE

  • my partner's fentanyl?

    Simple answer is NO. But your better question should be how you can help your partner get into recovery. Involvement in a family treatment system like Alanon can help you find ways to help both your partner and yourself, since their substance use disorder is very likely to affect your life as well. READ MORE

Expert Publications

Data provided by the National Library of Medicine

Awards

  •  1995 Officers. . 
  •  2005 Medicine 
  •  2006 Best Doctors In Boston, Boston Magazine 
  •  2009 Nywander-Dole Award of American Association for Treatment of Opioid D 

Fellowships

  • Froederdt Lutheran Memorial Hospital, Fellow:Addiction Medicine    1981
  • Medical College of Wisconsin, Fellow:Addiction Medicine    1982

Internships

  • Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Dr. Alan A. Wartenberg, MD, FACP, DFASAM's Practice location

Practice At 66 Pavilion Ave

66 Pavilion Ave -
Providence, RI 02905
Get Direction

MAP Health Management

32 Trout Brook Ln -
Hope, RI 02831
Get Direction

3 PRINCE ST -
ATTLEBORO, MA 02703
Get Direction
New patients: 508-226-2106

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Media Releases

Get to know Addiction Medicine Specialist Dr. Alan A. Wartenberg, who serves patients throughout the State of Rhode Island.

An experienced addiction medicine specialist, Dr. Wartenberg is a Medical Director at MAP Health Management, working with patients in Rhode Island.

The mission of MAP Health Management is to leverage their extensive lived experience in behavioral health and substance misuse to improve personal connection, community health, and healthcare outcomes.

Pertaining to his educational pursuits, Dr. Wartenberg received his Bachelor of Arts degree at New York University and his medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his rotating internship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and his residency in internal medicine at Milwaukee County Medical Center. After 2 years in private practice, he returned to a Faculty Fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin as a Career Teacher in Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

Passionate about his profession, the doctor is board-certified in addiction medicine by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM), which provides assurance to the American public that addiction medicine physicians have the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and treat addiction.

Moreover, he is board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

Achieving fellowship status, Dr. Wartenberg is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (DFASAM). He is also an Affiliated Faculty Member at the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University in Providence.

Throughout his illustrious career, he served as the Medical Director of the Addiction Recovery Program at Faulkner Hospital in Boston for 14 years, and was the Corporate Medical Director of Discovery House, a group of outpatient opioid treatment programs, for ten years. He recently retired from the private practice of addiction medicine at the Meadows Edge Recovery Center in Rhode Island, and also retired as a consulting physician in the DVA Providence Medical Center Opioid Treatment Program. He has published widely in many areas of substance abuse, including treatment of the elderly, opioid and alcohol detoxification and medical complications of addiction.

Addiction medicine is a medical subspecialty that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, evaluation, treatment, and recovery of persons with addiction, of those with substance-related and addictive disorders, and of people who show unhealthy use of substances including alcohol, nicotine, prescription medicine and other illicit and licit drugs. An addiction medicine physician provides prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment services for patients with unhealthy substance use or substance-related health conditions.

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